Safety attachment for cuff links



NOV. 30, 1965 ARZT 3,220,073

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CUFF LINKS Filed Dec. 2'7, 1963 3! 35 F1 5 47 l ls 44 9 +3 INVENTOR. EMANUEL A R27" ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,220,073 SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CUFF LINKS Emanuel Arzt, 7 W. 45th St, New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,850 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-41) This invention relates broadly to cuff links, and more particularly to a safety attachment for a cuff link.

Standard cuff links are held in engagement in shirt cuffs by spring action. Through use, the tension of such springs becomes less resilient. In this fashion, cuff links are easily lost. Since cuff links frequently contain precious or semi-precious stones, such loss can be costly.

With this in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a safety attachment for a cuff link, whereby inadvertent disengagement of the cuff link from the shirt sleeve is practically impossible.

A further aim of the present invention resides in the provision of a safety attachment for a cuff link, which can be quickly and easily applied to any standard cuff link and which, when applied, becomes a permanent part of the cuff link.

Yet another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a safety attachment for a cuff link, the spring element of which will be positioned against the inner face of one side of the shirt cuff, and which will prevent the cuff link from being inadvertently withdrawn.

A still further aim of the present invention is the pro vision of a safety attachment for a cuff link whereby the spring element of the safety attachment will be entered through one of the cuff button holes and held in engagement through spring action.

A still further purpose of the present invention lies in the provision of a safety attachment of this character, which is simple to use, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to attach.

A yet further aim of the present invention resides in the provision of a cuff link having a safety attachment thereon to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the cuff link from the shirt cuff to which it is attached.

These and other meritorious aims and advantages, which will become more fully apparent as the description hereof proceeds, are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts, hereinafter described, and illustrated on the accompanying drawing, constituting a material component of the present disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional cuff link provided with a safety device of the present invention, the locking member of the safety device being illustrated in an operative or locked position.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the cuff link illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the cuff link illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, the section being taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the cuff link in locked position, the locking element of the safety device being illustrated as being in operative position in broken lines and in inoperative position in solid lines.

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the cuff link illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of a blank from which the body of the safety device is formed.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view, the section being taken on line 88 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, drawn to a reduced scale and showing the blank before bending.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, showing the extensions bent to a V-shape.

FIGURE 11 is an edge view of the blank illustrated in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of another type of cuff link, having a modified safety device thereon, the safety device being illustrated in open or inoperative position.

FIGURE 13 is a cuff link similar to the one illustrated in FIGURE 12, showing the safety device in operative or locked position.

FIGURE 14 is an end view of the cuff link illustrated in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of the modified locking element in inoperative position.

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURE 15 showing the modified locking element in operative position.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view of the modified locking element, the section being taken on line 1717 of FIG- URE 16.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, and more particularly to the principal embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 25 relates broadly to a conventional cuff link having a safety device of the present invention thereon.

Cuff link 25 comprises a U-bar 29 and an ornamented head 27. A pin 30 extends transversely through the legs of the U bar at their open end, which pivotally retains a locking bar 26. The elements herea'oove described are conventional and do not constitute a part of the present invention.

The safety device which constitutes the subject-matter of the present application is made in part from a blank as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The blank, preferably made from thin metal, has a central body portion 28a, here illustrated as being disc-shaped. Disc 28a has a pair of bars 31 formed therewith at opposite sides thereof, here illustrated as being formed integrally with the said disc 28a. Each of the said bars 31 is longer than the circumference of the disc 28a, so that each of the said bars extends above and below the disc 28a. Spaced from each of the said bars 31 is a locking element 32, each of the said locking elements 32 being shorter than each of the said bars 31. Each of the said locking elements 32 has a score line 32a extending vertically therethrough, as is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 9, for a purpose which will presently be more fully explained. An opening 33 is provided near each end of each of the said locking elements 32 for a purpose which will presently become more fully apparent.

The invention further comprises a pair of spring arms 34 and 34a respectively, the arm 34a preferably being longer than the arm 34.

A modified cuff link provided with a modified safety device is illustrated in FIGURES 12 through 17 and is broadly referred to by the numeral 40. Cuff link 40 comprises a pair of ornaments respectively numbered 42 and 43. Ornament 43 is provided with a screw plate 43a to which a locking plate 44 is attached by means of a screw 49 or in any other suitable and desirable manner. Ornament 42 has a link 44a thereon adapted to be removably retained in an opening provided for it in locking plate 44. On opposite edges, locking plate 44 is provided with a pair of V-loops 47. A U-spring 45 constitutes another part of the present invention, the end of each leg of the said U-spring being bent outwardly for engagement in each of the said V-loops. Locking plate 44 is provided with an opening 48 for the passage of screw 49 therethrough whereby a pair of locking plates 44 are spacedly joined.

The principal embodiment of the present invention is assembled and used in the following manner:

The weld plate 29a of U-bar 29 is soldered or otherwise secured to one face of disc 28a, the other face of the said disc being soldered or otherwise secured to the base 28. of ornament 27. Each of the said locking elements 32 is then bent on its crease line 32a to form a longitudinal V-shaped groove, referred to by the numeral 35. Bars 31 and locking elements 32 are then bent rea rwardly. Each of the said bars 31 is then bent respectively about one leg of U-bar 29 as is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and of the drawing. The locking elements 32 will extend vertically between and beyond the legs of the U-bar 29. The end of each of the said U-springs 34 is bent outwardly for engagement in one of the said opening 33 in locking elements 32.

The cuff link is now ready for use. When the cuff link is to be secured to a cuff, locking bar 26 is extended as shown in FIGURE 1 and the spring arms 34 and 34a are placed in inoperative position as illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 5. The cuff link is then entered through button hole 41a in an obvious manner. One segment of cuff 41 will be positioned in the space between the locking bar 26 and the spring arm 34 and 34a and the other segment of the cuff 41- will be positioned between spring arms 34 and 34a and the disc 28a. Locking bar 26 is then locked as shown in FIGURE 5 and the spring arms 34 and 34a are locked as shown in broke-n lines in FIG- URE 5. It will be noted that spring arm 34a is longer than arm 34 so that, when the said arms enter through the cuff button hole, the longer arm will serve as a guide to facilitate the passing of the arms through the button hole. When the arms 34 and 34a are in inoperative position, they will press against the V-shaped grooves 35, thereby expanding them. When the spring arms 34 and 3411 are locked, they will cause the grooves 35 to contract, so that the arms will be locked in operative position. When the cuff link is to be disengaged, bar 26 will be unlocked, so that the cuff link can be withdrawn from one segment of the cuff, but the cuff link will remain engaged in the other segment of the cuff.

When the modified cuff link is to be used, link 44a is entered into and retained in the opening in locking plate 44 provided for that purpose. Locking elements 45 are turned upwardly into locked position, and the cuff link will be retained in the cuff. One segment of the cuff can be withdrawn by disengaging link 44a from the locking plate, but the other segment can be retained in the cuff by retaining the locking arm 45 in locked position.

The cuff link illustrated in the principal embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured with the safety device as part thereof, or the safety device can be manufactured and sold as a separate entity to be applied to conventional cuff links. In the latter case, blank 28a may be provided with a central opening therein so that U-bar 26 may be entered therein and therethrough and blank 28a can be soldered or otherwise secured to base plate 28 as hereabove explained.

There has thus been shown and described a safety attachment for a cuff link in the principal form of its embodiment and in one modification thereof. Other modifications are apparent and still others will become apparent by use. Base 28a need not be disc-shaped, for instance, but may be made to conform to the contour of the back 28 of the ornament to which it is secured; the steps of assembly need not be followed in the exact order herein described, and the locking elements and the link need not be shown as being secured to ornament 43, but may be reversed and secured to ornament 42.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative and descriptive only of the best known forms of the present invention and not as limitative or restrictive to the exact details shown, applicant reserving the right to make such changes and modifications therein as might come within the scope of the appended claims without thereby departing either from the spirit or the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A safety attachment for a cuff link including a base and a U-shaped guard extending therefrom, said safety attachment comprising a body member adapted to be attached to the base. of the cuff link, said body member having a pair of bars at opposite edges thereof, each of said bars having a locking elements spaced therefrom and formed therewith, said bars being adapted to be secured to the legs of the U-shaped bar, said locking elements being positioned perpendicularly between the legs of the U-shaped bar, and a pair of spring arms, said spring arms being pivotally retained between adjacent ends of said locking elements.

2. The combinationof a cuff link having a head and a U-shaped bar secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, and a pivotally arranged lock at the free end of the U-shaped bar; and an auxiliary lock for the cuff link, said auxiliary lock comprising a body portion secured to the head of the cuff link having means formed thereon for embracing the legs of the U-shaped bar and including a pair of locking arms positioned adjacent said leg embracing means, said locking arms extending vertically between the legs of the U-shaped bar, and a pair of U-shaped springs, each of said U-shaped springs being positioned between and pivotally secured to a pair of adjacent locking arm ends, said locking arms being provided with means for removably retaining the U-shaped springs in adjusted positions.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said U- shaped spring retaining means comprises a V-shaped groove extending longitudinally of said locking arms whereby said pivotally retained ends of said U-shaped springs snap into said V-shaped grooves when said U- shaped springs are in locked position, and press against said V-shaped grooves when said springs are in unlocked position.

4. An auxiliary lock for a cuff link comprising a head having a U-shaped bar secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and a pivotally arranged lock at the free end of the U-shaped bar, said auxiliary lock comprising a body member adapted to be secured to the head of the end link, a pair of arms extending from opposite edges of the body member, said arms being adapted to embrace the legs of the U-shaped bar, a pair of locking arms extending from said leg embracing arms, said pair of locking arms being adapted to spacedly extend between the legs of the U-shaped bar, a pair of U-shaped springs, each of said U-shaped springs being pivotally retained between adjacent ends of said locking arms and said locking arms having means to removably retain said U-shaped springs in adjusted position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,333,228 3/1920 Stuart 2497 2,798,272 7/1957 Boots 2497 2,859,501 11/1958 Pero 24-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 326,627 4/ 1906 France. 426,856 5/1911 France. 814,340 9/ 1951 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR A CUFF LINK INCLUDING A BASE AND A U-SHAPED GUARD EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID SAFETY ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE BASE OF THE CUFF LINK, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF BARS AT OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF, EACH OF SAID BARS HAVING A LOCKING ELEMENTS SPACED THEREFROM AND FORMED THEREWITH, SAID BARS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE LEGS OF THE U-SHAPED BAR, SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS BEING POSITIONED PERPENDICULARLY BETWEEN THE LEGS OF THE U-SHAPED BAR, AND A PAIR OF SPRING ARMS, SAID SPRING ARMS BEING PIVOTALLY RETAINED BETWEEN ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS. 